World meat industry news

The measure applies for products coming certain parts of the country due to an outbreak of a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu.

The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment on Thursday announced that it is banning the import of all species of birds and its meat products from certain areas in Russia due to an outbreak of a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu, reports Gulf News.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) confirmed the existence of the H5N2 virus in the region of Rostovskaya Oblast in Russia.
The ban applies to all species of domestic and wild live birds, ornamental birds, chicks, hatching eggs, meats and meat products and non-heat-treated wastes from the affected region and from previously infected provinces of Kurskaya Oblast, Astrakhanskaya Oblast, Respublika Kalmykiya, Kostromskaya Oblast, Voronezhskaya Oblast in Russia.
Nevertheless, thermally-treated products, such as meat and eggs have been cleared for imports. The ban is described by the UAE officials as a precautionary measure. "These measures reiterate the ministry’s keenness in achieving its strategic objectives including enhancing bio-security levels and eliminating pathogens before they enter the country. In doing so, the ministry prevents the bird flu virus and related risks and impacts on the country’s poultry health and safety, in addition to protecting public health and well-being,", declared Dr Majid Sultan Al Qasimi, the head of Animal Development and Health Department.